Wednesday, October 1, 2008

LOCKHEED MARTIN DELIVERS FIRST GMS2 PRODUCTION UNIT

LOCKHEED MARTIN DELIVERS FIRST GMS2 PRODUCTION UNIT

ORLANDO, FL, October 1st, 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] recently marked the first delivery of the Gunship Multispectral Sensor System (GMS2) initial production unit to The Boeing Company for aircraft integration. GMS2, the electro-optical/infrared fire control system for the AC-130U Gunship, is scheduled for three additional unit deliveries by the end of 2008.

The delivery follows a series of successful flight tests that assessed system performance in target imaging, line-of-sight stabilization, image blending, image processing and system controls. The Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) system successfully completed flight testing in July.

“Our primary focus is to take the demonstrated capability of the EMD flight test system over the last two years and turn it into a very high performing production system,” said Mike Inderhees, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control’s director of Turreted Systems. “The GMS2 is a quality product that will give the Warfighter a significant improvement in capability.”

The addition of GMS2 on the AC-130U will broaden the range of options to Warfighters and not only fulfill traditional missions, but also meet the demands of non-traditional combat operations for coalition forces. The U.S. Air Force recently awarded Lockheed Martin an $80 million follow-on contract for the GMS2 for the AC-130U Gunship. The contract includes 12 production units, readiness spares kits, depot level spares and technical orders and data.

GMS2 consists of a large-aperture, a midwave infrared sensor, two image-intensified television cameras, a near-infrared laser pointer, and a laser designator/rangefinder (with eyesafe mode). Its sensor also uses image blending for improved passive situ ational awareness during night operations. These components are integrated into a highly stabilized turret to ensure outstanding image quality and highly accurate line-of-sight point ing for gunfire control.